Stratford Town boss Carl Adams believes Coventry City would be an ideal fit for his star player Ben Stephens.

The prolific front man, who was only converted to a striker this season, was due to join the Sky Blues on trial today and is set to play for the Under-23s at the Alan Higgs Centre against Cardiff City on Monday (kick-off 1.30pm).

The 20-year-old has also attracted interest from Championship Ipswich Town, and is due to travel to Suffolk for trials next week.

But Adams, who has managed Stephens for two seasons, said: “I really believe Coventry would be the ideal place for him because, one, he wouldn’t have to leave home and, two, I think they are very much a club that give youngsters a chance.

“Technically he is very, very gifted and I think he has a great chance of moving on, whether it’s with Coventry or Ipswich, I am sure someone will come in and take him.

“He’s one that a lot of people have missed and someone who is going to go on to good things.

“At our level, and I can only judge him at our level, he’s a special player and he’s creating a big name for himself at the moment. And with Coventry just on his doorstep I think it’s wise for them to have a look at him.”

Stratford Town boss Carl Adams (Image: Stratford Town FC)

Asked what the plan for him is, Adams revealed: “I spoke to Jason Farndon and what they have planned for him is to have him in on Thursday and Friday for training and then play a game for the Under-23s against Cardiff on Monday.

“That’s the plan. If he goes in Thursday and Friday and things don’t go well then he may not play on Monday, I don’t know.

“Then the following week he’s due to do exactly the same at Ipswich.”

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He added: “I can’t praise him enough. I will be devastated to lose the lad but it’s fantastic for our club.

“We had another lad leave us in the summer and go to Walsall, so if we can get Ben out to Coventry or Ipswich then it shows that we are doing the right thing with youngsters. It’s all good publicity for us.

“And to be fair to Ben, he deserves a shot because his attitude is brilliant and he just wants to play football every minute of the day.”

Ben Stephens celebrates scoring one of his 17 goals for Stratford this term (Image: Stratford Town FC)

Stephens is a free agent because he does not have a contract with Stratford and, as such, could move outside the transfer window.

So what’s in it for Town?

“We like to think that whoever comes in for him will look after us a little bit in terms of offering us a pre-season friendly so we can get a big gate and stuff like that,” said Adams.

“The other thing is I would like to work with Coventry, so I could maybe turn to Jason if we need a player on loan and he can help me out.

“Stratford and Coventry aren’t a million miles away so it would be nice to get a relationship going between the two clubs.”

Here Adams gives the inside track on the player whom he believes is destined for bigger and better things.

Where it all started:

“I think he started out at Leicester City and came out and I got him from Kettering Town two years ago," says Adams.

"He has come to us and now he’s the star man, really lighting the place up.”

Best position:

“He played central midfield for the whole of last season for us and he did OK, but nothing special.

“Then I decided to move him up front to play off one of our big lads and he’s taken to it like a duck to water, he really has."

Sounds like a managerial masterstroke?

“It was because he was getting forward a lot and every time he was beating a man from midfield the next one would get him, so if he’s only got one to beat he’s in on goal and that’s where he’s made his mark for us.

“I think he’s scored 17 in 24/25 games for me, so he’s really lighting things up at our end.”

Ben Stephens (left) in action for Stratford Town (Image: Stratford Town FC)

Standout quality:

“His technical ability. His feet are unbelievable, honestly. It’s difficult for me because all I can say is what I see in him. Coventry might have three or four like him in the building.

“It’s not like he’s going to walk into Coventry City and they give him a two year contract because I am sure he has got to be a lot better than what they have already got, but I believe he is because his first touch and awareness of bringing other players into the game is really good.

“He has a great footballing brain but he has got everything. He’s not overly rapid or fast but he isn’t slow by any means. He’s more of a ball player. He sees a picture and he’s become lethal in front of goal.”

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Character:

“One of his other big assets is that he just wants to learn. He wants to train every day, he’s the first one at training and last one to leave.

“He’s a quiet lad but the one thing I like about him is he is now becoming very selfish. He is very driven and I think he sees this as a really big opportunity for himself.”

Nasty streak:

“He’s just turned 20 but he’s really got a nasty streak to him now, which he didn’t have last year.

“It’s playing man’s football. He was getting a little bit beat up in midfield last year and now he has gone up top and is learning how to use his body and strength more, and throwing the odd elbow back when he’s getting them off the centre-halves.

Ben Stephens slides the ball home for Stratford (Image: Stratford Town FC)

“The one thing about him is he has long hair which he ties in a pony tail, so he looks a bit of a ponce, and when the centre-halves see him with his pony tail I think they try to kick him. But he’s certainly manning up and standing his ground now.”

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Types of goals:

“He’s good with both feet, the best I have seen at our level, very special feet! He scores with both on a regular basis and with his head as well.

“The one thing that’s surprising about him is he isn’t the biggest lad in the world, he’s only about 5ft 9, but he wins loads and loads of headers because he has got a really good leap on him.

“He has scored five or six free kicks from 20-25-yards so he’s a bit of a dead ball specialist as well. I feel like I am describing Messi to you, but he really is a special player.”

Day job:

“I think he does a little bit of part-time coaching but other than that I think he relies on the money he gets paid at Stratford for work.”

Availability:

“He’s not under contract. He was in contract last year but we haven’t gone down the road of offering contracts this year, so he’s basically a free agent.”